Automatic folding container



July 14, 1931. frqua-#ELEAUM l 1,814,816

AUTOMATJC FOLDING CONTAINER Filed'sept. e, 195o Patented July 14, 1931 AUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I'ISAA APBELBAUM, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOB. TO HANGERETTE FOLDING BOX, LTD., OF NEW'YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION AUTOMATIC FOLDING .CONTAINER Application led September 6, 1930. Seriall No. 480,076.I

My invention relatesv to a novel folding.

box which is particularly adapted for carrying Wearing apparel and other objects, ma wrinkle-proof manner, and which is formed from a single blank by -a simple stamping operation.

My invention still further relates to a folding box of this character which includes an integral handle, and which can be verected orassembled for use from its initial knockdown condition by -a simple operation 1nvolving a minimum of time and labor.

It has heretofore been the practice, in making boxes for carrying apparel vor other objects, to form a bottom part over which a cover was adaptedto lit, a string being then tied around the top cover and bottom part to secure the box in closed condition.

It has heretofore been further proposed to make boxes which included a handle, a hanger on which the wearing apparel wasV draped and locking tabs for securing the box in assembled or. erected condition and for locking it in the closed condition.-

It is therefore the object of my invention to produce a container which is made of a single blank and which can be erected from an initial fiat or knock down condition into a receiving closed condition by simple manipulation involving a minimum of time and labor.

- A further object of my invention is to produce a container of this character which is completely constructed and assembled by the 5 manufacturer and which is shipped to the consumer in a` flat knock-down condition, thereby facilitating handling and reducing the cost of shipment, handling and storage.

A still further object of my invention is to produce a container which is provided with one or more handles and one or more locking devices, said handle and locking de- Y vices being integral with the blank from which said box is formed.

A still further object of my invention is to produce a container of this general char- V acter which is durable and inexpensiveLand one which, while serving as a container, also servesvas a medium of, advertising.

5 A still further object of my invention is to produce a container of this general character which is' provided with means for preventing the wrinklin of fabrics, wearing apparel and other objects that may be carried therein. Y

To the above ends, my invention consists of a novel blank adapted to be folded to form a container, said blank being cut and vscored or creased to provide a box effect, in-

cluding a hanger for supporting a garment or other object in folded, wrinkle-proof manner, and a handle member for carrying the box, together with means for'securing said box in closed condition.

My invention further consists in the novel method of folding the blank to form a con- Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the conl tainer formed from the blanks shown in Figs. 1 and 2, shown in the closed position.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention, I have shown, in the accompanying drawings, a form thereof which is at present preferred since in practice it gives satisfactory results, but it is to be understood that my invention consists in a foldable container made of a single blank, and including a hanger, a handle or both, and one which is automatic in its operation in that -it can be erected from the knock-down flat condition and be made ready for use by a single, simple operation involving a mimmum of time and trouble and not employing extraneous fastening or securing devices.

Referring to the drawings, in which like reference characters indicate like parts, it will be seen that my novel folding container is made of a blank 'which is transversely creased at 2 and 3 to form the body panels' Ltainer, itis merely side flaps or or walls 4 and 5. The blank is also longitudinally creased at 6 and 7 to form the side walls 8 and 9, which are cut away at 11` to facilitate folding as will be understood from the drawings lThe panel 4 is creased or, scored at l2 to form the end strip 1,3 from which is cut the handle 14, and the locking tab 15 which is enclosed within the handle 14 when the blank is in the flat inoperative condition.

The end strip 13 is creased at 16 to form the reinforcing members 17, while the side walls 8 and 9 are creased near their ends at 18 to form the corner pieces 19 which are again scored at 20 for a purpose hereinafter set forth. The side panel 5 is scored at 21 to form the end strip 22 from which is cut the hanger 23, of any desired contour, and the handle 24 which corresponds to the handle 14. The end strip 22 is scored at 25 and 25m to form the reinforcing members 26 hereinafter further referred to. -27 designates a slot in the panel 4 which is adapted to receive and engage the tab 15 carried by the end of. the opposite panel 5.

The blank from'gwhich my novel container is formed, comprising substantially the parts heretofore described, is first stamped from any suitable material in any desired size. rlhe corner pieces 19 are then folded inwardly along the creases 20 to lie flat against the fiat end strips 13 and 22. The reinforcing members 17 and 26 are then folded inwardly over the corner pieces 19 and-the end strips 13 and 22, along the creases 16 and 25m respectively, and a stitch 27 is then'v put through the inner ends of the reinforcing members 17 Aand 26, the inner ends of the corner` pieces 19 and the inner ends ofthe end strips 13 and 22( In this condition, the side flaps or walls 8 and 9 lie folded inwardly over and flap upon the body panels 4 and 5. This is rendered possible by the creases 20. The containers are shipped to the consumer in the sembled, but nevertheless flat or knock down condition. When it is desired to use a connecessary to raise the walls 8 and 9 into a vertical positlon with respect to the flat body panels 5 and 4, and the outer portions of the corner pieces 19 are inserted between theouter, unstitched portions b of the reinforcing members 16 and 7 and the juxtaposed portions of the end strips 13 and 22 respectively. In this way the side walls 8 and 9 and the end strips 13 and 22 are brought into a vertical position with respect to the panels 4 and 5 and are automatically inter-locked at their corners. A dress, coat or-other object is then draped upon or suspended from the hanger 23 which is then folded inwardly. over the crease 25 in a L horizontal lposition over and parallel to the juxtaposed panel 5 and at right angles to the no w vertically stitched, completely asdisposed end strip 22. The panels 4 and 5 j are then brought together alongv the creases 2 and 3 and the cut out portions 11 into the closed box effect illustrated ingFig. 5, whereupon the tab 15 is inserted into the slot 27m to retain the box in closed condition. The handlesv 14 and 24. are now closely juxtaposed and afford convenient means for carrying the box.

Har/'ing thus described my invention, what 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A blank for forming a folding container of the character stated, comprising foldable body panels and an intermediate base, foldable side flaps for said panels forming side walls, foldable, pieces carried by the ends of said side iiaps, a foldable end strip integral with one of said body panels in detached relation to the juxtaposed corner pieces, including an integral handle and a locking tab enclosed within said handle, reinforcing members integral with the outer edge of said end strip on either side of and detached from said handle,= said reinforcing members being adapted to be folded over and secured, at their'inner ends to the juxtaposed portions of said end strip, and a foldable end strip integral with the other of said body panels and including a hanger, a handle enclosed within and detached from said hanger, and reinforcing members intermediate said hanger and said end strip, on either side of said handle, said reinforcing members being adaptedl to be folded over and secured, at their inner ends to the juxtaposed portions of said end strip, therebeing a slot in said body panel for receiving and engaging said locking tab.

2. A blank for forming a folding container of the character stated,l comprising foldable body panels and an intermediate base, foldable side flaps for said panels forming side walls, foldable diagonally scored corner pieces carried by the ends of said side flaps, a foldable-end strip integral with one of said body panels in detached relation to the juxtaposed corner pieces'including handle, integral with said end strip, reinforcing members integral with the outer edge of said end strip on either side of and detached from` said handle, said reinforcing members being adapted to be folded over and secured, at

their inner ends to the juxtaposed portionsY of said end Astrip and said corner pieces, and a foldable end strip integral with the other of said body panels and including a hanger, a handle enclosed within and detached from said hanger, and reinforcing members intermediate said hanger and said end strip on either side of said handle, said reinforcing members being adapted to be folded over and secured, at their inner vend to the juxtaposed diagonally scored corner lll portions of said end strip and said corner ieces. p 3, A blank for forming a foldingcontainer of the character stated, comprising foldable body panels and an intermediate base, foldable side laps for said panels forming side walls, foldable, diagonally scored corner pieces carried by the ends of said side flaps, a foldable end strip integral with one of said body panels in detached relation to the juxtaposed corner pieces including an integral handle, and a locking tab enclosed within said handle, reinforcing members integral with the outer edge of said end strip on either side of and detached from said handle, said. reinforcing members being adapted to be folded over and secured at their inner ends to the juxtaposed portions of said end strip and said corner pieces, and a foldable end strip integral with the other of said body panel and including a'handle, and reinforcing -members intermediate the outer and inner edges of said strip on either side of and detached from said handle, said reinforcing members being adapted to befolded over and secured at their inner ends to the juxtaposed portions of said end strip and said corner pieces, there being a slot in said body panel for receiving and engaging said locking tab.

ISAAC APPELBAUM. 

